Internal combustion engine having a main combustion chamber and an ignition chamber associated therewith provided with an ignition device

Abstract

An internal combustion engine having an ignition chamber communicating with a main combustion chamber via at least one transfer channel, with the ignition chamber forming a closed circular cylinder and its cylindrical wall being protected by an annular thermal pipe from too-rapid cooling and from overheating. In the wall of the ignition chamber, partial electrodes disposed in an insulated manner are provided which are electrically connectable via spark gaps with each other and with the ignition voltage supply line. As a result, ignition occurs near the wall in an area at an elevated temperature level and, in particular, in the immediate vicinity of the entry point of the fresh fuel-air mixture via the overflow channel so that, as a result, the flammability is maintained with increased leaning of the fuel-air mixture.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. An internal combustion engine having a main combustion chamber and cooling means comprising, in combination, an ignition chamber having a cylindrical wall and at least one transfer channel for communicating said ignition chamber with said main combustion chamber, said ignition chamber comprising a closed end circular cylinder having a cylindrical lowered portion of said wall projecting into said main combustion chamber, said at least one transfer channel extending substantially radial to the axis of said cylinder and tangential to the circumference of said cylinder, an ignition device having a first electrode which ignites toward said cylindrical wall of said ignition chamber, an annular thermal pipe for separating said cylindrical wall at least partially from said cooling means of the internal combustion engine so that the wall temperature can be controlled by means of the heat conduction capacity of said thermal pipe which is variable in accordance with temperature, said ignition device having an electrode assembly for supplying the ignition voltage and isolated with respect to ground, said ignition device electrode assembly comprising a plurality of electrode elements arranged in series and separated from each other to form at least first and second spark gaps and being adapted to be electrically connected to a source of ignition voltage, a counter electrode formed by a surface of said ignition chamber cylindrical wall at a level just above said transfer channel one of said plurality of electrode elements being arranged to form a last ignition location along said cylindrical wall between a spark gap formed by said one electrode and said counter electrode. 
     
     
       2. An internal combustion engine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said last ignition location is disposed within said cylindrical wall of the said ignition chamber opposite the projected cross-sectional area of said transfer channel. 
     
     
       3. An internal combustion engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ignition device for supplying the ignition voltage includes a spark plug that forms an end face of said ignition chamber, said spark plug having a middle electrode insulated from ground; and at least one of said electrode elements forming a partial electrode extending substantially in the axial direction of said cylindrical wall toward the entrance opening of said transfer channel and insulated with respect to said ignition chamber cylindrical wall and a third spark gap for electrically connecting said middle electrode with said partial electrode. 
     
     
       4. An internal combustion engine in accordance with claim 3, including a ring insulatedly disposed on said ignition chamber cylindrical wall said middle electrode of said spark plug being bent in hook-like fashion toward said ring and wherein said ring is part of said partial electrode. 
     
     
       5. An internal combustion engine in accordance with claim 3, wherein said middle electrode terminates in a tang-like configuration and a spark gap for electrically connecting said middle electrode with a portion of said partial electrode projecting in hook-like fashion into said ignition chamber. 
     
     
       6. An internal combustion engine in accordance with claim 2, wherein said ignition device includes a spark plug having a middle electrode for supplying an ignition voltage and including a partial electrode having a part extending out of said ignition chamber, said partial electrode otherwise extending substantially in an axial direction toward the entrance opening of said transfer channel in said cylindrical wall and electrically insulated from said ignition chamber, said partial electrode part extending out of said ignition chamber arranged in electrically conductive contact with said middle electrode. 
     
     
       7. An internal combustion engine in accordance with claim 6, including an insulating body for supporting said middle electrode, said middle electrode being arranged to project as a middle tange out of said insulating body, a compression spring, said middle electrode being electrically connectable by means of said compression spring with said part of said partial electrode extending out of said ignition chamber. 
     
     
       8. An internal combustion engine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said partial electrode is subdivided at least once to thereby form at least said first spark gap. 
     
     
       9. An internal combustion engine in accordance with claim 3, wherein said ignition chamber cylindrical wall is provided with a bore opening in a slit-like fashion axially and radially toward said ignition chamber and including a bolt-like insulating body inserted into said bore, so that a portion of said insulating body projects into the ignition chamber and wherein said partial electrode is embedded in said bolt-like insulating body. 
     
     
       10. An internal combustion engine in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the distance forming at least one of said spark gaps is defined by an insulating material surface whereby the ignition spark therebetween is in the form of a creepage spark.